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Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller was the son of a Danish father, Arnold Peter Møller – founder of the A.P. Moller – Maersk Group – and an American mother, Chastine Estelle Roberta McKinney. He married his high-school sweetheart, Emma Neergaard Rasmussen in 1940 and remained married to her until her death in 2005. They had three daughters: Leise Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller (born 1941), Kirsten Mærsk Mc-Kinney Olufsen (born 1944), and Ane Mærsk Mc-Kinney Uggla (born 1948). He ranked 557th wealthiest person in the world (2007) on the Forbes list with an estimated fortune of 142 billion Danish kroner which made him the wealthiest person in Denmark until his death.

Møller became a partner in the A.P. Moller – Maersk Group in 1940. When Denmark was occupied by Germany during World War II Møller went into exile in the United States and ran the family business from New York until his return to Denmark in 1947. Møller became CEO and chairman on his father's death in 1965. In 1970, Møller became the first non-American member of the board of IBM, a position he held until 1984.

Møller stepped down as CEO in 1993 in favour of Jess Søderberg, but stayed on as chairman of the board until 2003 when – at age 90 – he retired completely. He personally controlled a substantial portion of the company's shares until his death. He was generally considered one of the most respected industrialists in Denmark, and was admired by many. At his death he was Denmark's second-richest man after Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, according to the Forbes List of Billionaires 2007. This is disputed by the Danish financial magazine Berlingske Nyhedsmagasin, which placed Møller as number one in Denmark and estimated his fortune in 2006 as 141.2 billion DKK, and his personal wealth at 7.0 billion DKK. Most of Møller's fortune was placed in foundations controlling the A.P. Moller – Maersk Group, in which he held a controlling interest.[2]

In 1962, A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S was granted concession to survey and exploit oil and natural gas resources in Denmark, rendering a monopoly-like status to Maersk. The 40 year agreement was renewed in 2003, causing some discussion. The levy paid to the state is not influenced by fluctuating oil prices, meaning Maersk could gain a much larger profit in times with high oil prices. Also, the levy is just 69 percent, while Norway has 80 percent, and Britain raised the oil levy in 2006 because of high prices. According to the newspaper Information on 4 November 2007, the oil price since the agreement of 2003 had risen from 22 to 96 USD per barrel, meaning the company would in forty years not just earn the expected profit of 87 billion kroner, but 346 billion kroner.[3] Government parties have however declined to change the agreement or raise the oil levy.

Through A.P. Møller and wife Chastine Mc-Kinney Møllers Fond til almene Formaal, a wealthy, family-controlled foundation, Møller made substantial donations to causes with a wide range of interest: restoring historical monuments, furthering financial and cultural co-operation with the Danish minority of Southern Schleswig and in the rest of Scandinavia, and supporting science and shipping in Denmark.

At a cost of 2.3 billion kroner, the Copenhagen Opera House is one of the most expensive opera houses ever built. It is situated directly across the harbour from the royal residence, Amalienborg Palace, and within sight of his Mærsk headquarters. In the same area, Møller donated Amaliehaven, a park between the Palace and the harbour in the 1980s.[1]

Møller died on 16 April 2012, aged 98. He was survived by his three daughters.[4]

A funeral ceremony was held on 21 April in the Church of Holmen followed by a private ceremony in Hellerup Church, north of Copenhagen where his final resting place, among other deceased family members, is located.

Møller was a knight of the Danish Order of the Elephant (awarded the 15 December 2000); he was, during his membership of the order, the only person who was neither royal nor a head of state to hold this honour (the nuclear physicist Niels Bohr and founder of the East Asiatic CompanyHans Niels Andersen held the same order), which granted him the title His Excellency. He was awarded the honour of Life Honorary Membership of the Baltic Exchange in recognition of his service to shipping by the Baltic. AP Møller-Maersk has conducted business through Baltic Exchange brokers since the early 20th century and its London company has been a Baltic member since 1951.